Opportunity is For the Taking

[tech_nically]

Who: Tech and others, mostly open if anyone fancies working with clone boy?
What: Mini-Missions!
When: Here and there...
Where: Various
Content Warnings: N/A


I. OPERATION: RELIEF
A. The Road Less Traveled
Operating the vehicle in question isn't too difficult. The controls are rather straight-forward and Tech is quite confident he's got a handle on things after getting some quick instruction on important features to note. Given his experience has put him in various sorts of vehicles to pilot, this is hardly the worst of them.

The road however is something to be desired, even with the route memorized, although he can certainly understand the intent. He grips the controls tightly, his focus on the narrow path- if it can even be called such- ahead.

"I'm going to have my hands full here, so you'll have to keep an eye out for anything or anyone that may try to get the drop on us," he informs his passenger. At least for the moment they don't have to worry about speed...


Night Raid
The first spatters of gunfire jolt Tech to attention from his light sleep, a hand reaching for his gun even as he begins to register the shouts of alarm. By the time he's ducking out of the tent, he's fully on alert, eyes narrowed behind his goggles as he moves for the nearest cover.

It's still dark out, hours yet before dawn, but he's not about to go stumbling blindly around the camp. He pulls out his tablet, activating the scanner to get a readout of where people are, head lifting as someone else emerges from the guest 'quarters.'

"Ambush," he explains with a frown, gesturing at the dots of red amassed in one section of the screen. "I can't be too sure just by this, but it looks like they might be trying to flank us while the majority heads to the eastern side of the camp to deal with the attack there. I suggest we make sure this group-" he points at several dots making way around the camp's edge, "-does not succeed."



II. THE NEW ARRIVALS
Given the number of unknowns surrounding this newly identified facility, Tech feels it's best to take care in the approach. He's gone on missions with little to no information before, but that's not to say that it's a situation he likes. Soldiers liked to be prepared, liked to know what they were getting themselves into- but then he assumes that goes for anyone, really.

The sewers may not be the most appealing ingress, but it's out of sight and gives them a little more leeway to work things out. Tech has a flashlight in one hand, his tablet actively scanning in the other. "The readings I'm getting are faint, but I believe we should at least be well beneath the outpost." He beams the light along the walls until it skims across a ladder. "We're going in blind, so I can't be sure where this will lead out to. I can only confirm that at the moment, I do not pick up anyone above this given area."



III. SABOTAGING SENSORS
This sounds like the most ideal chance to have a look at the corresponding technology to this chip fiasco. Not that Tech has any objections to destroying these new tower setups as he understands the risks, but he has other things in mind as well.

"Please don't blow anything up immediately," he's quick to make clear. "I need to see if there's anything I can scavenge and download from these sensors. I'll try to be quick about it, but in the meantime, I'll have to leave it to you to be on watch. But if things get too heated..." Well, he won't complain if it's in their best option to destroy the thing before he can finish. Doesn't mean he won't try again on the next one.

((OOC: Toying with the idea of capture here huhuhu))

Comments

III

[newmemorywhodis]

Link - who had just summoned forth a glowing blue sphere rather than using the provided explosives - pauses. Okay, so maybe no setting off the remote bombs just yet.

“What do you want to scavenge?” Link asks. He’s good at scavenging - maybe he can help.

[tech_nically]

"Parts, mainly. They may not be entirely necessary though. I'll have to see if I can patch in," Tech says, eyeing the glowing sphere that Link just brings forth from nowhere. This one is just full of surprises. "Which means getting closer, but we'll have to do so anyway."

He nods towards the Sylphid present, a couple on guard and several working on the tower itself. "I'll jam their comms so they can't call for backup, but I won't be able to do so for long. But we should be able to take care of them before then. Whenever you're ready," he says, tapping at his tablet before tucking it away to grab his guns.

[newmemorywhodis]

Link nods, making note. Parts - he can look for parts. He might not have a clue how things work, or how to put things together - but he's scavenged parts off of destroyed Guardians. This can't be all that different, can it?

He'll keep an eye out, at least.

"I can fight the Sylphid," he says. He lets the remote bomb he'd just summoned go, and it dissipates into wisps of light. Best to save that till later, if they're trying to keep the tower intact.

He'll start with a different weapon instead - one familiar to Tech. Link pulls out his bow, and readies an arrow.

[tech_nically]

Fascinating how that light vanishes with ease. Tech is glad he's been able to head Link off before anything got destroyed. At least Tech knows that Link's capable in stealth and with a bow, so he'll leave the other to it. He nods, readying his own guns, one cocked in each hand as he waits for Link's move.

Beyond, the two Sylphid on guard continue to look around at the jungle facing the smallish clearing they've established the sensor tower, breaking away from their attention from the greenery to look over as a pair of the technicians maneuver a ladder into position, trailed by a third.

[newmemorywhodis]

Link crouches down, and creeps forward. The bushes work as cover, until he can get close enough that his bow is in range.

The guards are the ones who are the most heavily armored; he'll aim for them first. He picks out one of the two guards as his first target, and - since he wants to take him out as quick as possible - aims right for his head.

Thwack. The arrow strikes true, piercing right through the guard's cheek and sending her tumbling to the ground.

A second arrow, aimed at the other - the Sylphid are moving now, so he doesn't have the time to line up as perfect a shot. This one strikes her in the arm, but it doesn't stop her from raising her own weapon to attempt to return fire.

[tech_nically]

Tech is moving from cover the moment Link's second arrow flies. The other guard shouts in warning as she fires at Link, getting the attention of the technicians. One of them reaches for a communicator at his belt, attempting to radio for assistance. Another pulls out a gun.

The shots fired aren't as well-aimed, but it's obvious even the technicians are familiarized in some self-defense. Tech shoots at the one with the comm, dropping him where he stands before diving to the side to avoid getting shot by the other, though he offers quick retaliation by the time he's rolling back onto his feet.

The other technician moves for the tower as cover, pulling out their own weapon to fire at Link as they try to fiddle with the connections.

[newmemorywhodis]

Link fires off one more arrow, before swapping out his bow for a rough-looking sword and his trash can lid shield. As he holds the shield up and advances a transparent, glowing red sphere appears around him. The bullets seem to bounce off of it, unable to get through to Link himself.

Which means the second guard is soon gaping in alarm and madly trying to fire off shots as Link charges towards them. His sword swings forth in quick, forceful strikes; one strike to the thigh, two the chest, and then one last, vicious stab that sends the guard down.

The red sphere, having taken a battering, is now starting to look riddled with cracks; Daruk's protection won't last much longer. But while the last technician also managed to get a few shots off at Link, they hadn't kept up the assault. Instead, they'd switched focus to the Tower - perhaps trying to get out some kind of SOS.

II

[fightingevilbymoonknight]

Marc's smelled worse, really; these sewers have only started seeing a lot of use recently, and there's pretty good drainage.

He's still ready to get out of here, though. And kind of missing the suit a little, which would filter things at least a little. And be bulletproof.

"Let me go first," he says, putting a hand on the metal rungs. "Okay? You keep the sensor going, and tell me which way to take us." He's sure Tech can handle himself, but he'd still rather take the brunt of the fighting if he can.

[tech_nically]

Tech doesn't argue if Marc wishes to take point. He nods at him, trusting the man knows what he's doing.

"Very well. My hope is that we find a computer console so that I can pull up a map of the layout. It will certainly make things easier for us to locate where anyone may be being held."

He steps closer over so he can beam the light up the ladder to help light Marc's way while he keeps an eye on his tablet to make sure the coast continues to be clear.

[fightingevilbymoonknight]

"I've been in very few prisons that had maps on their computer systems, buddy," Marc says, a little apologetically, as he starts to climb. It's not a very tall ladder, hardly room for both of them on it once he gets going. He feels around on the manhole cover above them for a latch, in case there is one. "Best we might get is hoping they got signs on each level, and maybe a work order or somethin' to point us to which floor prisoners are on."

[tech_nically]

"It's not entirely a prison. It's an outpost for a research firm," Tech corrects. "But if the outpost isn't a large one then you might be right in that we'll have to find alternate means of finding our way."

Not that it'll stop him from looking for a computer. Who knows what they might find, information-wise?

"Still clear directly above. However some twenty paces north I'm reading some activity. I'll let you know if they look to be headed this way."

[fightingevilbymoonknight]

"Honestly? Nowhere I've ever tried to infiltrate except a museum ever had schematics on their internal computers," Marc chuckles. "And this is definitely not that. But maybe this world is more thorough like that, who knows."

He finds the release for the cover, and slowly starts to push it up. It's times like this he misses the strength Khonshu's suit gave him; it's really damn heavy. But he gets it a couple inches up first, enough to get his bearings-- it appears to be a basement full of shelves, which is better than an open hallway-- before putting his shoulder to it to get it up and over enough to climb out.

It's not silent. It's not loud, but it's not silent.

[tech_nically]

"I confess, I've never infiltrated a museum," Tech notes as he watches Marc go up. "There is no harm in looking for computer access if we can find it. We may as well see what all we can gather while we're here and make the most of this trip."

As Marc pushes the cover up, the clone lowers his light, not wanting to draw more attention to the man if anyone does prove to be up there. The sound of the hatch being pushed open further has him tense, and for a moment he stills, waiting at the bottom of the ladder as he looks between the opening and his tablet.

"Marc- someone's on the move!" he warns, hoping the man's heard him as he tucks his flashlight away and grasps the rungs to begin his ascent.

II - Garbage masher one rescue mission, a sewer for another. it's only fitting.

[forceguided]

Honestly? The smell isn't that... no actually the sewers smell pretty bad. Worse than the garbage masher had even. Though belatedly Luke wonders how much of that had been the garbage and how much had been the fault of the creature living in it.

Luke tries to expand his senses, to feel things out like he knows he should be able to. He feels..... nothing. But whether that's because there's no one to feel or because his senses are unreliable is another matter.

"I think we're in the clear." Luke agrees quietly. More than ready to leave the sewage behind. "Let's just hope they don't smell us coming."

[tech_nically]

Tech would have to agree, if only because unlike his brother, he hadn't experienced the smell nor the grip of a dianoga firsthand. But missions don't always guarantee taking you into glamorous places, in fact they hardly do, so all you can really do yourself is deal with it. And try not to breathe in too deeply.

He nods at Luke, starting towards the ladder. "Well, if that's the case perhaps it'll be incentive enough for them to also keep their distance," he suggests. It's difficult to tell if he's joking or not. "Do you want to go first or shall I?"

[forceguided]

Just once Luke would like to have a mission that was simple and didn't involve stinky things. Or they could at least be nice smelling things. Infiltrate a florist's shop or something. But knowing his luck the florist would be full of carnivorous plants that smelled like rotting meat to lure in their prey or something equally as ridiculous.

"If only it were that simple." Easier to smell like eau de stink than fight people. Even if it wasn't the most conventional of battlefield tactics. "I'll take point."

Honestly, it's easy enough to tell that Tech knows what he's doing. Luke's just trying to make it seem like he's experienced too though he's... honestly not that experienced at all really. One hand on the ladder, he heaves himself up and then pauses after a moment.

"Probably not the best time for an introduction, but my name's Luke. Luke Skywalker." He resumes climbing after that. Face twisted into a small smile. "Figured it's a good idea we at least know that about each other. In case anything happens, you know?".

[tech_nically]

Here is Tech giving Luke the benefit of the doubt since the young man has opted to go along on this mission. They don't know each other's skillsets, but learning about them could be dangerous in the field, even while simultaneously being the best way to get to know them.

Nodding as Luke steps up to begin climbing, Tech beams the flashlight along his path. "Well, better now than never-" he says, falling abruptly silent as he stares up at Luke with that namedrop, eyes widening just slightly behind his goggles.

"-sorry, did you say Skywalker? Not a common surname..." He gives a belated nod of confirmation for Luke's suggestion, gears of his mind still turning. "Hopefully we can avoid anything happening. I'm Tech, by the way. ...I served alongside a General Skywalker for a couple of missions, actually."

[forceguided]

He has some skill, but he's certainly no trained soldier. He's fairly well trained with a blaster and these guns aren't that different. He's mostly just inexperienced more than anything.

Luckily he's a stripped Skywalker and has always been one of the Force's favorites. So he'll manage alright. They always do somehow.

"Really?" He pauses in climbing the ladder, turning to glance down at the other with surprise before remembering now really isn't the time and getting back to work. "Probably my father. I've heard he was a great hero back in the day." He doesn't talk for a few moments before continuing. "I didn't realize you were from back home."

Meaning that they shared a universe. Since obviously they're not from the same planet or anything. Nearing the top of the ladder, he opens the way carefully, but when there's no reaction hoists himself up and out. Peering around again he nods.

"Looks like we're in the clear."

[tech_nically]

"General Anakin Skywalker," Tech confirms. "I hadn't been aware that we originate from the same galaxy either, but there does seem to be quite the percentage of us here."

Waiting until Luke's up top, the clone begins his own ascent after tucking his things away to free up his hands. "...I had no idea he had a son," he says after a while. But then there are quite a few things he's found he doesn't know about Anakin Skywalker.

He hauls himself out of the opening, casting a cautious look around wherever it is they've managed to come up out of. Tech wastes no time in pulling out his tablet again. "I'm clocking several heat signatures down the next corridor, although it may also be within a room- I can't quite tell, and we have no layout of the area," he whispers. "Hopefully we can locate a computer I can tap into, or perhaps a network."

Interlude: Night Market (for Rokuro)

[tech_nically]

The Night Market isn't something to be seen all at once, and it seems there's always something new or at the very least not seen from a previous trip. It's always interesting to see what can be found here, and there's always something to the bustle of people and business even at such hours that serves as an ambient energy. True it may be overwhelming but it's also enticing, an unspoken suggestion that perhaps the thing you didn't know you were looking for could be right over at the next stall. Of course there's also the food, and the market certainly offers some deliciously tantalizing scents, and equally strange offerings.

They've already been accosted by someone hawking grilled, tendril-like delicacies of some sort that Tech is sure must be some kind of local invertebrate, and while it hadn't actually smelled all that bad, he isn't necessarily out here for food. Now and then he does think about taste-testing something new, which essentially is anything, but his eye is always out for any useful gadget or something unique. However in this case and with current company, there are other objectives as well. Hopefully Rokuro is good at haggling because that is not something Tech has had much experience with.

"So I've read up on the various types of traditions for tethering ceremonies," he says conversationally while looking over some kind of spanner. Of course tools are on his mental list somewhere. "Did any particularly draw your attention? I know you mentioned flowers but I am not sure if you meant for decor or ah, that specific practice."

[noisecomplaint]

While the items and cuisine on display are like nothing Rokuro has ever seen before, the Night Market in itself is not unfamiliar to him. There are such places where he is from, complete with food-stalls, novelty wares, and rigged games, that appear with every major festival.

It's been a long time since he's properly attended one, given the violence and unrest of the past few years, and Rokuro had forgotten how interesting and entertaining they could be. At some point, he had started looking at festivals and all that followed as opportunities for Ueda's enemies to attack, rather than sacred celebrations for their civilians to enjoy. Although this Night Market doesn't appear to have any particular meaning, Rokuro thought it necessary to dress for a festival-like occasion, and so he's wearing the closest thing to a yukata he could find (it's a dress) with a printed sash and something like formal geta (platform sandals).

At least his ass is covered and he isn't wearing heels?

"I thought they all sounded interesting and worthy of our attention, though I will admit to feed one another seems... especially personal. As for the flowers, I believe they are necessary for the ceremony as well as the decor. I have been told those used in the 'crown' exchange can be found growing wild, and are more meaningful if plucked and chosen personally. As for the other arrangements, if we purchase the flowers and ribbon required, I can arrange them into pleasing displays myself." Rokuro lifts what is definitely a combination of welded gears with dangling metal wires and holds them up to his hair, like an iron kanzashi.

Maybe he's already a little bored of the 'electronics graveyard' section of the market.

"Which of the rites did you find most appealing?"

[tech_nically]

Tech wouldn't have known what to wear for a special night out to begin with, not that he figures a supply trip to the market is all that special. He is thankful that Rokuro's at least wearing better footwear, although he's still not convinced for practicality.

"I'll agree with the 'interesting', however unnecessary to go through every available option. I think simple may be better than piling on various traditional practices, and many of the ones that have come up seem more for show than something personal." He sets down the spanner after some consideration. "I admittedly have not been keeping an eye out on the local flora to know what's available out there."

The sound of bouncing metal has Tech look over to see what Rokuro's found, and he arches a brow at him. Well, that's not quite the way he would've used such parts but he can see what it was potentially going for. He tilts his head at the question. "I think the handfasting would suffice. It is straight forward and symbolic enough."

[noisecomplaint]

"If such rituals were not necessary, they would not exist. Perhaps they do not serve a practical purpose now, but in the past they may have held great power, and should be respected. We do not want to anger the spirits of this world. They are vast and powerful. If you could sense the energy of this Broken World, you would better understand."

A huff, and Rokuro returns the metal 'kanzashi' to its place. They have no money for such frivolities. Not with the tethering ceremony to plan for, and Tech's resistance to spending any more than the bare minimum.

"The handfasting alone will not suffice!" And upon delayed acknowledgment of what Tech said in regards to the flowers, Rokuro's eye widens and then narrows, "Why haven't you prioritized the flowers, when you know they are important? Do you even wish to be tethered?!" Pitched too loudly, perhaps, because passersby have taken notice of their conversation and are whispering behind their hands.

"Wow, such a beautiful face, but if I were that bespectacled man I would run from the altar as fast as I could--" "The tether charm should be a muzzle." "I'd tether with him if you know what I mean."

The commentary stops as soon as Rokuro whirls around, as it is immediately obvious by the look on his face that his bark, while nasty, isn't half as bad as his bite.

[tech_nically]

"Or they were simply devised as further ways to make things needlessly fancy," Tech points out. When the oldest of your kin was thirteen or so at most then you didn't really have a lot of experience with deep tradition to pull from. Everything else is bits of trivia he's read up on, and it's vastly different from actually growing up in such cultures or participating in them. He might be more sensitive about the matter...if he had such sensitivity.

"Perhaps I would," he says, not discounting that there were some sort of energy forces at work here. Seeing Rokuro's expression begin to shift, he then braces for the inevitable although he doesn't even flinch as it comes.

"I assumed you were going to handle flowers, seeing as how you're more aware of what you mean to look for. Much as I also assumed that said flowers were going to be purchased. That gathering them ourselves was an option had never crossed my mind."

Delivered in his typical, matter-of-fact tone. He really isn't seeing otherwise why this is becoming so exasperating, but then perhaps that's the problem.

Catching the commentary drifting from those wandering past them he can only sigh. He reaches out to brush a tap over Rokuro's shoulder so they can move on to the next stall. "You can't expect me to know what the importance of flowers are as you know them, not unless you tell me."

[noisecomplaint]

"I will handle the ornamental flowers, yes, however we are each responsible for the flowers of the planet we are aligned with. If you do not pick the flowers for the headpiece I am to wear, then it has no meaning!" Rokuro does move along to the next stall when encouraged, although he doesn't appear ready to let the matter drop.

"All that matters is they are flowers of Heba, and that they are chosen by you. I know you do not care for the language of flowers and other such 'frivolities' and so I have not bothered to explain them to you and waste your time." And maybe that is where some of the perceived slight is. Knowing how pointless Tech thinks most of this to be, when Rokuro is always willing to listen to Tech ramble on and on about whatever contraption or scientific concept he has become fascinated by.

The old woman who owns the booth they are standing in front of doesn't appear bothered by the discussion. If anything, she seems pleasantly amused. Having had a table in this Night Market for as long as anyone can remember, she has seen her fair share of Heba/Tian clashes, and knows an opportunity to earn a rebel's stipend when she hears one.

"Ah, flowers are important, but it is the charms that speak most to the bond-- is the pretty lad represented by a pretty charm yet?" A kindly (or crafty) grandmother's laugh. Rokuro looks coolly in Tech's direction. Fairly certain he is not.

"I imagine he does not feel such tokens are necessary."